Curtain track



INVENTOR.

2 m f V9140! ATTORNEYS.

E. J. VALLEN CURTAIN TRACK Filed Jan. 7, 1928 March 11, 1930.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 PATENT QFFICE EARL J. VALLEN, OF AKRON, OHIOCURTAIN TRACK Application filed January 7, 1928.

This invention relates to curtain tracks, for use in theatres,auditoriums, etc.

The general purpose of the invention is to provide an improved,noiseless track which is constructed to facilitate trimming of thecurtain and is capable of easy and inexpensive installation.

Particularly the invention has for one object the provision of a fireproof track, preferably of steel or the like and traveling hangersconstructed for noiseless operation along said track.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means formounting the track.

Another object of the invention is to provide a track adjustable tofacilitate trimming the curtain.

A further object is to provide in combination with the track, noiselesscurtain operating mechanism.

The foregoing and other objects are obtained by the curtain track shownin the accompanying drawings and described below. It is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the particular form thereof shownand described and that features disclosed but not claimed herein areclaimed in a copending application Serial No. 279,780,

filed May 22, 1928.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a track installation embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is a part plan of the track illustrating the adjustable lapconstruction:

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig ure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of a portion of the track showingthe master hanger thereon;

Figure 5 is a left end elevation thereof;

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of a portion of the track showingthe construction of the remainder of the hangers;

Figure 7 is a left end elevation thereof;

45 Figure 8 is a section through the single pulley block mounted at theleft end of the track as shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 9 is a section through the double pulley block mounted at theother end of the 50 track.

Serial No. 245,160.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a curtain trackrail of steel or other suitable material made up in two sections 10 and10 with a central lapped connection at 10 when it is used for mounting adouble curtain as shown.

The track rail is supported on two parts brackets 11, 11 embracing therail and slidable thereon to adjusted positions and arranged to betightened thereon by bolts 12, 12. Three part brackets 13 are employedbetween the overlapped portions 10 of the rail sections, these bracketsincluding a central supporting and spacer member 13 shaped to embracethe under surfaces of the rail and to which is secured side bracketmembers 13 13 embracing the upper portions of the rail sections, theparts of brackets 13 being bolted together at 13. Bolts 14 are extendedthrough adjacent rail section ends and brackets 13 respectively on eachof said ends additionally to secure the brackets thereto, to providestops for the master curtain hangers and also to provide eyes 14 throughwhich the ope-rating cable may be extended. The construction of brackets13 and these connections to the adjacent rail ends permit easyadjustment of the lap by loosening of bolts 13 and telescoping thesections to increase or decrease the lap. The end brackets 11 areprovided with bolts 14 acting as end stops.

Both brackets 11 and 13 are formed with eyes indicated at 15, 15, bywhich the rail may be suspended either from stage grids or ceilings bylines as shown and also with 35 bolt holes indicated at 16, 16wherebythe track may be anchored against the ceiling or on brackets atthe rear of the proscenium arch, adj ustability of brackets 11permitting lining these up on the track with ceiling or other supports.The rail 10 is formed with a race way 20 in which the curtain hangerstravel. These hangers include in the particular form shown, masterhangers 21 21 and the auxiliary or spacer hangers 22, 22. 95

The master hangers 21 include brackets 21 on which are journaled a pairof rollers 21, 21 rollers 21 being formed of suitable, comparativelystiff, tough, resilient material, such as a semi-hard vulcanized rubberwhich 100 is noiselessly operable over the race way and requires nolubrication. he master hangers are secured to operating cable 23 byU-bolts indicated at 2st, 2 land have suspended thereon curtain trimmingchains 25.

The auxiliary, or spacer hangers 22 are supported on the race way bysingle rollers 22 journaled thereon and which are similar to rollers 21These hangers are also provided with curtain trimming chains illustratedat 26, 26.

Cable 23 is threaded through eyes 22", 22 in hangers 22, preferablythrough rubber or rubber and fabric tubes 22, 22 mounted therein and ofsuch length as to act as shock absorbing spacers between the hangerspreventing the clicking of the hangers together during operationthereof,

The curtain operating cable 23 is trained over a double pulley block 27secured to one hanger 11 at one end of the track, and over a. singlepulley block 28 secured to a hanger 11 at the other end of the track, inboth blocks the pulleys being mounted on journal pins 29 havingsuitable, noiseless, non-friction bushings 29", 29 thereon, hard maplebushings boiled in oil to be self-lubricating being suitable for thispurpose. Fiber washers are provided between the pulleys or pulley andblock housing.

The track is illustrated in Figure 1 suspended upon cables 81, 32 and33, cables 31 and 33 being connected in the eyes of brackets 11 at theends of the track and cable 32 by branch, flexible tension members 32,32 to the eyes in brackets 13.

It will appear from the foregoing description that the track is easilyinstalled in a number of different ways and that it is capable of easyand effective operation in a noiseless manner. In installing the trackthe central lap of the curtain may be adjusted as desired and the trackcan beadjusted accurately to length, either by adjusting the lap or byadjustment of the end brackets 11 to the desired length and then cuttingoff the portion of the rail extending beyond an end bracket 11.

hat is claimed is:

1. In an adjustable sectional curtain track construction, a supportingbracket for securing the track sections in lapped relation, said bracketincluding a central member extending between the sections and embracingthe under surfaces of the track sections, said central member extendingabove the track sections, and side members adapted to be secured withtheir backs to the central member and each embracing the upper portionof a track section, and a bolt extended through the side and centralmembers to secure the bracket members together.

2. In an adjustable sectional curtain track construction, a supportingbracket for securing the track sections in lapped relation, said bracketincluding a central member extending between the sections and embracingthe under surfaces of the track sections, and side members adapted to besecured with their backs to the central member and each embracing theupper portion of a track section, and means for securing the bracketmembers together.

3. In an adjustable sectional curtain track construction, a supportingbracket for securing the track sections in lapped relation, said bracketincluding a central member extending between the section and embracingadjacent surfaces of the track sections, and side members adapted to besecured with their backs to the central member and each embracing asurface of a track section opposite to the surfaces embraced by thecentral member.

EARL J. VALLEN.

